Sept 4 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening 40 points lower at 5,811 on Friday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures (FFIc1) seen down 0.6% ahead of cash market open.
Britain housebuilders: Britain's competition regulator launched an investigation into four of the country's biggest housebuilders, saying they may have broken a consumer protection law in relation to leasehold homes.
Berkeley: British housebuilder Berkeley Group (BKGH.L) said trading for the first four months of the financial year was "resilient" and reiterated its plans to return 280 million pounds ($372 million) to shareholders.
BHP: BHP Group (BHP.AX), (BHPB.L) said on Friday it has awarded a tender to charter five bulk iron ore carriers powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions on voyages to biggest customer China by more than 30%.
Job ads: The number of job adverts in Britain rose at a slower pace in late August than earlier in the month, a recruiters body said on Friday, but there were signs that companies were looking for staff to help with a return to their offices.
Car registrations: New car registrations in Britain fell last month by around 5% in annual terms, preliminary data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed on Friday.
Metals: Copper prices gained on Friday as low inventories in exchange warehouses, disrupted ore supplies and solid economic recovery in top consumer China lent support.
Gold: Gold prices rose, as U.S. Treasury yields fell and a pullback in global equities bolstered demand for the safe-haven metal ahead of the U.S. non-farm payrolls report.
Oil: Oil futures slipped 1%, with prices on both sides of the Atlantic heading for their biggest weekly drops since June, as lacklustre demand and ample fuel supplies offset support from a weaker dollar.
The UK blue-chip index (.FTSE) slipped 1.6% on Thursday, after optimism about more stimulus proved to be short-lived, while shares of Melrose jumped after it signalled a pick-up in some markets.
UK corporate diary:
Berkeley Group Holdings Plc (BKGH.L) Trading statement
Capital & Regional Plc (CAL.L) Half Year 2020 Earnings Release
Eurocell PLC (LON:ECEL) Half Year 2020 Earnings Release